Sure, everyone is waiting for the Blackberry Storm or the new Sony Ericsson, to see what the competition is doing, but these days, one also has to look outside the box.<br><br><br><br>How does 850x480 pixel strike you, plus all the other bells and whistles?<br>This beauty was designed by ArtLebedev Studio for a Russian provider, who together with Samsung is just starting a new WiMax network in Moscow and Leningrad. A 20 Million test market.<br><br>The phone has 2 video cameras, can output directly to TV or stereo and offers GPS and all the other regular Google stuff, of course. Not sure, about the OS, but definitely not Windows. ;)<br><br><br><br>Very pretty, eh?<br><br>Since building stuff isn't anywhere the problem as coming up with a clean design, I find this the first true competitor to the iPhone, because it doesn't look like a copy and has a very strong, distinctive, somewhat more masculine look to it.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

<br>One for video conferencing - looking at you from the screen. Another for taking videos .... using the screen as viewfinder.<br>I though that was quite common by now. <br><br>Nope, no GUI images. Just the phone.<br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

Does look like it has potential, but we'll see: the iPhone's strength it its software and user interaction, and that's no easy feat to duplicate. I hope it doesn't stay vapor as long as their Optimus keyboard did!<br><br>Driving more pixels would not appeal to me, since:<br><br>* It's more work for the processor/GPU - a performance penalty<br><br>* Text small enough to need those pixels would be too small to read without a magnifying glass anyway<br><br>* Unless, that is, the whole unit is bigger--in which case I wouldn't like the lack of portability<br><br>But I WOULD enjoy dual cameras, as long as my friends have the same setup. iChat video on the go!<br><br>I don't like the ringer/silent switch you can't detect by touch. I like knowing my ringer's off without looking, especially in a dark movie! On the other hand, the little joystick could be a nice addition for some kinds of games.<br><br>And I do appreciate their innovation in NOT having a chrome border. Possible the first iPhone-alike to make that leap? <br><br>nagr[color:red]o</font color=red>mme<br><br>I require stroyent!<br>TeamMacOSX.com | MacClan.net

<br>[color:blue]Driving more pixels would not appeal to me, since:<br><br><br>* Text small enough to need those pixels would be too small to read without a magnifying glass anyway</font color=blue><br><br>---- wouldn't that depend on the font size?<br><br>* Unless, that is, the whole unit is bigger--in which case I wouldn't like the lack of portability</font color=blue><br><br> ------ check<br><br>[color:blue]I don't like the ringer/silent switch you can't detect by touch. I like knowing my ringer's off without looking, especially in a dark movie! On the other hand, the little joystick could be a nice addition for some kinds of games.</font color=blue><br><br>----- It says the hold slider prevents accidental activation..... something I would like, because the iPhone often iseems to open up apps I didn't mean to open; must be when I put the phone into a shirt pocket or so.<br><br>[color:blue]And I do appreciate their innovation in NOT having a chrome border. Possible the first iPhone-alike to make that leap? </font color=blue><br><br>---- yes, it looks very understated and cool. If the icons are similarly subdued, it would a great alternative, because quite honestly, I agree with my daughter, who considers the iPhone gaudy, with all those cute, cuddly, bright icons. ;)<br><br>I think the next six months will bring three or four real competitors. They were all caught off-guard.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

<br>no keyboard ... ergo, must be touch screen.<br><br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

What kind of sync capabilities does it have, any ideas? In regards to syncing with Address Book, iCal, Mail and iTunes? That's what is important to me.<br><br>I do like the look, and it is original, not a copy cat. I saw on endgadget where someone mentioned the side placement of the headphone jack, it's not in a good spot, prone to braking and makes it that much wider in the pocket.<br><br>No price or built in storage mentioned. I see the SD slot, but just wondering about what's built in. <br><br>------>#1 - JD's Trivia game<br><br>------>#2 - MM-MCF Trivia game

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>---- wouldn't that depend on the font size?<p><hr></blockquote><p>Right--larger sizes wouldn't need more pixels that the iPhone's already-high DPI. Sizes too small for iPhone to display would be nearly unreadable even if printed on paper!<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>It says the hold slider prevents accidental activation..... something I would like, because the iPhone often iseems to open up apps I didn't mean to open; must be when I put the phone into a shirt pocket or so.<p><hr></blockquote><p>The iPhone has that too (but it's a button, followed by the unlock gesture) and it will prevent those accidental pocket actions you've been having. (The phone app will turn the screen off when in a pocket, via the proximity sensor that's meant to save power when held to your ear. But not all apps do that.)<br><br>Don't hesitate to "turn off" (lock) the iPhone (or Touch) with that button on top. Your phone is still running. For instance, I can lock the phone while AIM is running. The screen goes dark but I still hear the chime when a message comes in. Or I can lock during any music app playback and the music continues.<br><br>(You can also have it auto-lock after a time, but I don't bother. Sometimes I want it to STAY on forever, and the rest of the time I want it to lock when I put it in my pocket, which means I press the button anyway. Pocketing the phone without locking, and then waiting for the auto-lock, wouldn't help prevent accidental actions, it would only prevent accidental battery drain.)<br><br>nagr[color:red]o</font color=red>mme<br><br>I require stroyent!<br>TeamMacOSX.com | MacClan.net

Xplain's use of MacNews, AppleCentral and AppleExpo are not affiliated with Apple, Inc. MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. AppleCentral, MacNews, Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corp. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corp. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders.

All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.